Blick v Franklin

Members will be aware of the ACT Supreme Court decisions in Franklin v Blick and Blick v Franklin, both of which were in Mr Franklin’s favour. Last Thursday, Mr Blick’s application for special leave to appeal to the High Court was refused on the basis that:

"The application does not raise a question of principle suitable for a grant of special leave to appeal. The appeal would have insufficient prospects of success were special leave to be granted."

So, that legal saga has been brought to a close. But the committee once again urges all members to assess their own insurance position, as suggested in the 13th June 2016 Bleat.

Ian AlbreyVice President.

Friday Morning Ride

These days I am unable to cycle in events and organised groups because I have to care for my wife full time. I will be able to take advantage of a weekly respite session, beginning 28th October, Fridays 8.30am to 12.30pm.

I know this is an inconvenient time for most cyclists, but if you happen to know anyone of G-Grade standard or thereabouts who would be interested in a regular Friday mid-morning ride, could you please let me know.

From time to time, the track group receives interest from new riders who would like to try track racing. At present, we do not have spare bikes to assist with initial introductions to track.

If any ACT Vets members have a track bike gathering dust in the garage and might be interested in loaning, hiring out or selling their bike, please contact the track convenor, Graeme O’Neill, on 0408 267 734.

Sunday, 23th October: No Road Race

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 11th October

85 Vets raced in the first criterium of the season, after the previous week’s race was cancelled, showing the popularity of this form of racing. There were moderate cross winds, which made following wheels more difficult and helped split up some of the bunches. The skills of veteran racers showed through, with no accidents in these tough conditions.

We followed the Rob Langridge system of racing more than one grade at a time, thereby able to have reasonable length races. The faster grade is sent off first, and then, about half a lap later, the other grade. The plan is that the faster grade should catch and pass the slower grade well before the end, and each grade will be able to contest their own finishes without undue interference from riders of the other grade. This system requires co-operation and skill from the riders, to allow the faster grade to swiftly overtake. It also significantly complicates matters for the race director, since it can be tricky to keep track of everyone, and try and ensure that the finishes for each grade are decently separated by manipulating the last laps for each grade. However, with seven grades this kind of system is the only way to provide reasonable length criterium races.

B and D grades went off first. B grade had a massive bunch of 28 riders, more than twice that of any other grade, and D grade had 13 riders. Both races settled into a pattern of having attacks being launched and ultimately failing from the front of the bunch, and each bunch gradually dwindling as riders dropped off the back, struggling to cope with the accelerations out of the corners and the cross-winds putting them into the “gutter”. The overtake proceeded smoothly with D-grade nicely moving out of the way and allowing the entire B-grade bunch to pass before resuming racing. Well done everyone! Cameron Pitt won the B-grade sprint from Brendan Lakey and Sean Hunt. Michael Hanbury won the D-grade sprint from Roger Wheatley and Bernard Shaw.

E, F and G grade were up next. There were only 2 F grade riders, both named Frost. So, I asked Bill and Susan Frost to start with the 11 strong E-grade, thereby being able to ride with a bunch, and to tell us afterwards who won. It was Sue. I started the 4 G graders only a quarter lap after E grade. They split up into individual riders quite quickly : David Witteveen won from Heather Sommariva and Bernard Crowe, with Bruce Jones, the veteran of the ACT Veterans enjoying his ride at the back. E grade had a good race, with David Triston–Rattay winning from Anthony Bray and Nicole Bruce.

The last race of the night had A and C grades out on the track. In A-grade Ben Morrison, Mark Harris, Aaron Thomson and Steven Jones quickly formed a leading four, sharing the work and skilfully riding in echelon through the cross-wind to develop a good lead from the main group. About two-thirds through Steve was dropped from the lead four, and Ben won the final sprint from Mark and Aaron. In C-grade Seymour Saville-Boss and Matt Hinchcliffe quickly formed a partnership, and sharing the work demonstrated they were much faster than the rest of C-grade. The main C-grade bunch split up two sections, and the leading pair lapped some of C-grade. This caused some confusion since when I gave the bell to the two C-grade leaders some adjacent lapped riders thought that was for them, and so they finished a lap earlier than they should. They were disappointed, and I apologised for the confusion, but pointed out that perhaps they should have known they had been lapped, and I had to indicate the laps remaining to the leaders. Anyhow, Seymour won from Matt, with Chris Wilson being the best of the rest. I have recommended to Rob Landridge that Seymour and Matt be re-graded to B. Which perhaps should be matched with a couple of downgrades.

A few last comments:

Really excellent effort by all racers to ensure swift and safe overtaking of the different grades. Thanks and please keep it up through the season.

If you DNF, please go to the race-director or an assistant and provide your number before leaving the track. Some did not, or had to be reminded.

After the finish please help and organise yourselves and proceed in order, as best as you can work out, past the number taker. Please do not leave the track until your number has been put down. As a race director I usually concentrate on trying to get the first three places correct, and might get fourth or fifth if there is some separation. After that it is usually up to the racers, and the precise order might not matter much. What is important is that everyone is accounted for, and we are satisfied that no-one needs medical attention before we release our first aid officer.

Thanks to my assistant David Lloyd, to the indefatigable Graeme Hendrie who took money, provided lists & quiet advice and compiled the results, and to Sam the Sport Medicine officer.

Roger Northcote

Narrabundah Track Racing – 12th October

The first Track Racing session for the 2016-17 season saw fifteen competitors eager to resume racing at the Bundadome. The event attracted two new riders (Alison Hale and Roger Wheatley), in addition to a bunch of regulars from last season. The weather was cooler than ideal, with a fresh breeze that slowly dissipated as racing progressed.

The 8-lap A grade scratch race was led out, initially, by Steve Jones. The bunch settled to a good tempo until around lap 5 when Chris Thompson took the front and cranked the pace up several notches. No breaks were established. However, as the bell lap approached it was clear that the bunch was getting toey. Riders were splayed across the track, ready to accelerate. Michael Langdon took the initiative and accelerated into the bell lap with Steve Jones stuck like a limpet on his tail. Ultimately Steve Jones took the win by a tyre width. Alec Millett took a creditable third place just off the torrid final pace.

The B Grade scratch race largely followed the A grade script. The bunch held together at a good tempo with one or two riders dropping off the pace. All the action was delayed until the final acceleration though the bell lap. Steve Dean proved too strong for the field and took a comfortable win from Ross Scutts and Ian Drayton.

The evening’s second event was a 1-lap time trial from a standing start. This event requires maximal initial acceleration for the best time. Michael Langdon showed great form with easily the best A grade time of 27.21 seconds. The next best A grade times were 29.19 seconds for Steve Jones and 30.01 seconds for Alec Millett. The A grade times were all quite competitive with Ed Garnett, Chris Thompson and Kerry Knowler all in the 30 –31 second range. For B Grade, the time spread was greater. However, Roger Wheatley’s time of 29.70 seconds would have seen him place third in A grade. The next best times for B grade were a creditable 30.85 seconds for Steve Dean and 32.11 seconds for Ian Drayton.

The track session closed with an all-in, Italian pursuit. Alison Hale led out Team 2 but suffered a misfortune when she pulled out of a cleat. Thankfully, Alison stayed upright. However, the dislocation allowed the two lead riders on Team 1 (Graeme O’Neill and Ian Drayton) to gain an initial 20 metres lead. Despite the best efforts of Team 2, they could not peg back this lead, allowing Michael Langdon to take a comfortable win for Team 1. This would likely have been a close race without Team 2’s early misfortune.